Brampton home where boy, 9, fatally shot was targeted: police

The townhouse where a nine-year-old Brampton boy was fatally shot late Wednesday night was targeted, Peel Regional Police announced at a press conference Thursday afternoon.

“Based on the physical evidence we have, we are satisfied that the residence was targeted,” Peel police Supt. George Koekkoek said. “We’re just not sure -- and we’re working to determine -- who the actual person or persons was that the shooter was targeting.”

The boy, identified as Kesean Williams, was a Grade 4 student at Sir Winston Churchill Public School.

Williams suffered a gunshot wound to the head when a bullet was fired into his family's townhouse on Ardglen Drive, near Kennedy Road South and Clarence Street, shortly before 10:30 p.m.

Williams was sitting in the living room watching TV when he was hit by the bullet, Koekkoek said. His mother and 15-year-old brother were also in the home at the time of the shooting but were not injured.

Paramedics rushed Williams to Sick Kids hospital in Toronto, where he later died of his injuries.

Koekkoek said it does not appear to be a drive-by shooting.

The family moved into the townhouse last week, Koekkoek said, adding that investigators are currently exploring the possibility that the shooting may be linked to the previous occupants of the townhouse.

Officers are currently canvassing the area looking for potential witnesses as well as forensic evidence. Police are also sifting through surveillance video footage captured in the area for clues.

Canine units are also being utilized to help search for missed evidence on the ground.

No shell casings have yet been recovered, Koekkoek said. Information on the type of gun used was also not provided by police at the press conference.

“We’re throwing every available resource to it to try and see what we can locate,” Koekkoek said. “It’s appalling. It’s unfathomable to think that a young child sitting in the comfort of his own home […] that something as tragic as this could happen.”

Neighbours said they heard a loud argument before the shooting occurred. Carlos, a man who lives in the neighbourhood but was in the shower when the shooting occurred, said his wife heard a loud bang.

A short time later, police officers and other emergency personnel flooded the street.

Investigators have questioned a number of people, but no one has been charged, and no suspect descriptions have been provided by police.

A 15-year-old boy believed to the boy’s brother and the occupants of a taxi that was stopped by officers are being treated as witnesses or potential witnesses, police said.

Boy was a 'well-liked student'

In a letter to parents and guardians of Sir Winston Churchill Public School students, principal Kristin Bergen said the tragedy has brought sadness to students and staff.

Bergen described Williams as a “well-liked student.”

“(His) death is deeply felt by everyone at the school,” Bergen told parents in the letter.

As a tribute to Williams, the school’s flags are at half-mast and a memorial table has been set up to allow students and staff to write messages of remembrance and condolence, Bergen said.

She said grief counsellors will assist students and staff at the school as long as they are needed.

In her letter, Bergen encouraged parents to help their children to deal with the grief and trauma of Williams’ death.

She said parents can help by acknowledging the situation and their children’s emotions.

“Be available to your child,” Bergen wrote to parents. “If you don't know the right thing to say, just listen. Acknowledge that we don't always have answers to why these things happen.”

Police said they are hoping for help from the public to solve the child’s murder.

“As always, we rely on our community to join in these efforts in providing any information possible that’s going to lead to the identification of the person or persons responsible for this horrible crime,” Peel Regional Police Chief Jennifer Evans said during Thursday afternoon's press conference.

Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call the Peel Regional Police homicide bureau at 905-453-2121 ext. 3205 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).